Unsuccessful treatments of "writer's block": a meta-analysis.

A wide literature of the unsuccessful treatment of writer's block has emerged since the early 1970's. Findings within this literature seem to confer generalizability of this procedure; however, small sample sizes may limit this interpretation. This meta-analysis independently analyzed effect sizes for "self-treatments" and "group-treatments" using number of words in the body of the publication as indication of a failure to treat writer's block.

A mouse polyomavirus-encoded microRNA targets the cellular apoptosis pathway through Smad2 inhibition.

Some viruses and most eukaryotic cells have microRNAs that regulate the expression of many genes. Although many viral miRNAs have been identified, only a few have been included in in vivo functional studies. Here we show that a Py-encoded miRNA downregulates the expression of the pro-apoptotic factor Smad2, resulting in the suppression of the apoptosis pathway.

UV polarization lidar for remote sensing new particles formation in the atmosphere.

Understanding new particles formation in the free troposphere is key for air quality and climate change, but requires accurate observation tools. Here, we discuss on the optical requirements ensuring a backscattering device, such as a lidar, to remotely observe nucleation events promoted by nonspherical desert dust or volcanic ash particles. By applying the Mie theory and the T-matrix code, we numerically simulated the backscattering coefficient of spherical freshly nucleated particles and nonspherical particles.

Routine testing for anaerobic bacteria in cerebrospinal fluid cultures improves recovery of clinically significant pathogens.

In North America, the widespread use of vaccines targeting Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae have dramatically altered the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis, while the methodology for culturing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens has remained largely unchanged. The aims of this study were 2-fold: to document the current epidemiology of bacterial meningitis at a tertiary care medical center and to assess the clinical utility of routinely querying for anaerobes in CSF cultures. To that end, we assessed CSF cultures submitted over a 2-year period.

Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma: current concepts, management, and future directions.

Background: Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) is the most common central nervous system tumor in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). SEGAs are generally benign, non-infiltrative lesions, but they can lead to intracranial hypertension, obstructive hydrocephalus, focal neurologic deficits, and even sudden death.

Discussion: Surgical resection has been the standard treatment for SEGAs, and it is generally curative with complete resection.

Macromolecular crowding meets tissue engineering by self-assembly: a paradigm shift in regenerative medicine.

MMC, the addition of inert polydispersed macromolecules in the culture media, effectively emulates the dense in vivo extracellular space, resulting in amplified deposition of ECM in vitro and subsequent production of cohesive, ECM-rich living substitutes.

De Novo meningitis caused by Propionibacterium acnes in a patient with metastatic melanoma.

Propionibacterium acnes is a known cause of postneurosurgical meningitis; however, it is rarely implicated in de novo meningitis. Herein we report a case of a 49-year-old male with de novo meningitis caused by P. acnes with metastatic melanoma as the only identified risk factor for his infection.

Ultra high-resolution anterior segment optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis and management of ocular surface squamous neoplasia.

The development of optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology has helped to usher in a new era of in vivo diagnostic imaging of the eye. The utilization of OCT for imaging of the anterior segment and ocular surface has evolved from time-domain devices to spectral-domain devices with greater penetrance and resolution, providing novel images of anterior segment pathology to assist in diagnosis and management of disease. Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is one such pathology that has proven demonstrable by certain anterior segment OCT machines, specifically the newer devices capable of performing ultra high-resolution OCT (UHR-OCT).

Unilateral choroidal neovascular membrane as a herald lesion for Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is a diffuse inflammatory disease primarily affecting the gastrointestinal tract but with associated ophthalmologic complications that often appear after the initial diagnosis. The authors report a case in which the appearance of a choroidal neovascular membrane prior to the final diagnosis of Crohn's disease suggests its role as an advance lesion heralding an inflammatory state. A 13-year-old boy was referred for evaluation of a clinically isolated, unilateral choroidal neovascular membrane, which stabilized after treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab.

Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome: multimodal imaging and correlation with proposed pathophysiology.

The clinical presentation of multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) was described nearly 30 years ago; however, our understanding of its pathophysiology continues to change, evolving with our imaging modalities. Initially, electroretinography and fluorescein angiography indicated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and outer retinal damage. But with indocyanine green angiography, theories shifted to a primary choroidopathy.

Areas of normal pulmonary parenchyma on HRCT exhibit increased FDG PET signal in IPF patients.

Purpose: Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) show increased PET signal at sites of morphological abnormality on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The purpose of this investigation was to investigate the PET signal at sites of normal-appearing lung on HRCT in IPF.

Methods: Consecutive IPF patients (22 men, 3 women) were prospectively recruited.

Polarization-resolved exact light backscattering by an ensemble of particles in air.

We present the first experimental observation of exact backscattering of light by an ensemble of particles in ambient air. Our experimental set-up operates in the far-field single scattering approximation, covers the exact backscattering direction with accuracy (θ = π ± ε with ε = 3.5 × 10(-3) rad) and efficiently collects the particles backscattering radiation, while minimizing any stray light.

Prevalence and predictors of compliance with discontinuation of airborne isolation in patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: Examine the use of airborne isolation by identifying reasons for nontimely discontinuation and predictors of compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Compliance with guidelines should result in timely (within 48 hours) discontinuation of isolation in patients without infectious pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

Design: Retrospective, observational study.

A Lethal Case of Bacteremia Due to Soft Tissue Infection.

is an uncommon cause of skin and soft tissue infections. It is often associated with trauma or immunocompromised state. We present the first lethal case of bacteremia due to skin and soft tissue infections, which had malnutrition, immobility, and peripheral vascular disease as risk factors.

Implementation and validation of an adaptive template registration method for 18F-flutemetamol imaging data.

Unlabelled: The spatial normalization of PET amyloid imaging data is challenging because different white and gray matter patterns of negative (Aβ-) and positive (Aβ+) uptake could lead to systematic bias if a standard method is used. In this study, we propose the use of an adaptive template registration method to overcome this problem.

Methods: Data from a phase II study (n = 72) were used to model amyloid deposition with the investigational PET imaging agent (18)F-flutemetamol.

Effects of conducting peer behavioral observations on the observer's correct use of discrete trial teaching procedures.

A procedure consisting of peer observation and evaluation termed behavioral observations was used to improve educational staff's correct use of discrete trial teaching procedures (DTT). All participants had been previously trained and proficient in using DTT procedures; however, during baseline, showed a low level of correct demonstration of DTT procedures (mean scores: 38.3%, 43.

Brimonidine allergy presenting as vernal-like keratoconjunctivitis.

Purpose: To report a brimonidone-induced allergic reaction that mimicked a limbal form of vernal keratoconjunctivitis in the setting of background ocular surface toxicity.

Patients And Methods: A 78-year-old male with a history of primary open angle glaucoma presented with symptoms of unilateral blurry vision, irritation, and redness shortly after starting brimonidine exclusively in the right eye. Examination revealed injected palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, diffuse punctate epithelial erosion and discrete, non-staining corneal limbal infiltrates superiorly.

QuaNCAT: quantitating proteome dynamics in primary cells.

Here we demonstrate quantitation of stimuli-induced proteome dynamics in primary cells by combining the power of bio-orthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) and stable-isotope labeling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC). In conjunction with nanoscale liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS), quantitative noncanonical amino acid tagging (QuaNCAT) allowed us to monitor the early expression changes of >600 proteins in primary resting T cells subjected to activation stimuli.

Evolving strategies in the management of diabetic macular edema: clinical trials and current management.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the leading cause of vision loss in the working-age population in developed countries. Management has traditionally consisted of focal/grid macular laser, according to the guidelines established by the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study. More recent prospective clinical trials examining the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab in the treatment of DME--most notably, READ-2, RESOLVE, RESTORE, RISE/RIDE, and DRCR.

Genetic programs expressed in resting and IL-4 alternatively activated mouse and human macrophages: similarities and differences.

The molecular repertoire of macrophages in health and disease can provide novel biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Th2-IL-4–activated macrophages (M2) have been associated with important diseases in mice, yet no specific markers are available for their detection in human tissues. Although mouse models are widely used for macrophage research, translation to the human can be problematic and the human macrophage system remains poorly described.

Promoter methylation of the SALL2 tumor suppressor gene in ovarian cancers.

The SALL2 gene product and transcription factor p150 were first identified in a search for tumor suppressors targeted for inactivation by the oncogenic mouse polyoma virus. SALL2 has also been identified as a cellular quiescence factor, essential for cells to enter and remain in a state of growth arrest under conditions of serum deprivation. p150 is a transcriptional activator of p21(Cip1/Waf1) and BAX, sharing important growth arrest and proapoptotic properties with p53.

Mineral dust photochemistry induces nucleation events in the presence of SO2.

Large quantities of mineral dust particles are frequently ejected into the atmosphere through the action of wind. The surface of dust particles acts as a sink for many gases, such as sulfur dioxide. It is well known that under most conditions, sulfur dioxide reacts on dust particle surfaces, leading to the production of sulfate ions.

Mapping the phosphoproteome of influenza A and B viruses by mass spectrometry.

Protein phosphorylation is a common post-translational modification in eukaryotic cells and has a wide range of functional effects. Here, we used mass spectrometry to search for phosphorylated residues in all the proteins of influenza A and B viruses--to the best of our knowledge, the first time such a comprehensive approach has been applied to a virus. We identified 36 novel phosphorylation sites, as well as confirming 3 previously-identified sites.

A review of partial volume correction techniques for emission tomography and their applications in neurology, cardiology and oncology.

Accurate quantification in PET and SPECT requires correction for a number of physical factors, such as photon attenuation, Compton scattering and random coincidences (in PET). Another factor affecting quantification is the limited spatial resolution. While considerable effort has gone into development of routine correction techniques for the former factors, less attention has been paid to the latter.